From the East and from the Upper Midwest, they met in Nebraska at a tiny Danish American Liberal Arts College, Dana College.

 

HE chose that school because they had just opened an FM radio station (KDCV) and HE hoped to become a Sports Broadcaster. An admissions counsellor visited him all the way from Nebraska in a snowstorm to tell him about Dana and invite him to apply, offering a scholarship.

 

SHE chose the same school because her father's father had gone there, both her parents had gone there, her mother's parents had lived in that college town, and her areas of interest (Literature & Art) had professors that SHE knew - one had been her father's roommate (Norman Bansen) when he had attended college at Dana and the other had been the pastor (Rev. Bill Thomsen) who married her parents in 1948.

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The two of them graduated from high schools that had superb Music Departments and similarly dedicated and inspiring Band Directors. So, even though they weren't planning on studying music or a career in music, they both elected to play in the college's concert band under Dr. Wayne Wise.

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HE began in the fall of 1972 and SHE began in the fall of 1974. By the time SHE was playing flute in the Dana College Band and going on the Spring Band tour, HE had changed his career choice and was majoring in Music Education with plans to become a high school band director like his high school mentor, Mr. Arlen R. Saylor.

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And so, they met. They talked. They walked. They fell in love.

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HE graduated with honors at a commencement ceremony graced by the presence of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, but HE needed another semester for student teaching. SHE had trouble finding courses that didn't conflict to get a full slate of credits, so - SHE quit college.

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And they got married. Sunday, May 23rd, 1976 in Anoka, Minnesota where SHE was from. HE got a position as band director at a tiny school in a tiny Nebraska town, took the farm kids to their first ever marching band competition and taught the kids a lot and learned a lot himself. SHE helped with teaching the kids how to march and stayed on the farm and raised a little rescue puppy named Penny. But Penny's Separation Anxiety was her undoing and her human parents felt the heartbreak of her loss.

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Eventually, they got tired of tornado alley excitement and winter icy coldness, packed up their household, their new dog, Bernie (bought at Zern's Farmers Market on a vacation to visit family), and moved from Nebraska to his hometown, Boyertown, PA. HE started working in the restaurant industry and SHE had several different part time jobs but eventually SHE landed in the book universe in retail book sales (literature studies in college came in handy). An alley cat joined their family, rescued by her coworker and accepted by Bernie as little brother T.C. Now they were four - two humans and two furbabies.

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SHE moved up the ladder in the retail world and became a District Manager covering Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Yes, they moved to Massachusetts. HE had changed jobs and begun working in retail books too, and HE also found a sideline... Freelance Sports Writing.

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But they missed Pennsylvania. They missed the countryside, their friends, and family, and HE missed playing in and sometimes directing his Alumni Band. Driving between the Boston area and Boyertown for concerts was a little difficult, but they did it. So when the time felt right, they moved back to PA. To a farm in Oley, renting another farmhouse, this one built in 1754.

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Bernie, now 16 years old, passed away and a new puppy joined the little family, Sherman. They all made it through the winter of deep snow and getting snowed in for three days (had to scrounge up hay for the heifers in the rented out barn because the farmer couldn't get there from his own farm across the highway), the excitement of bees making a hive in the attic walls, a bat in the bathroom, and in the summer, swallows going down the chimney into the furnace. But life on the farm was - bucolic, lovely - even if it was only a rental.

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They both found jobs, yes, this was the second time they had just picked up and moved without jobs waiting for them. HE tried out insurance sales and SHE found a job working at the small local library - SHE was tired of the retail world but wanted to stay in the book universe. Libraryland had a major appeal - enter a staff position at the Boyertown Community Library. And HE found a teaching position, band director at St. Pius X in Pottstown.

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Music was a strong part of HIS life and it was during this time that HE became Band Captain & Principal Conductor for the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit. Then HE added Lansdale Catholic to his teaching schedule with St. Pius and combined the two high school bands in parades, took them on competition trips to Wildwood, NJ and realized HE had fallen back in love with teaching music. However, all the time HE was teaching, HE was still writing - now for the Pottstown Mercury sports section. During that time, members of the Alumni Band learned SHE played flute and kept encouraging her to join the band. HE knew SHE would enjoy it and told her it would be fun. So they were back making music together.

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Sadly, in early 1999 HIS father passed away, so they bought the family home from the estate, moving from a very large farmhouse to a very small Cape Cod home. A few years later, T.C. passed away. Sherman grieved deeply for his older brother so a new kitten joined the family, Mr. Peabody. They began sharing their musical talents at church, HE playing either his Flugabone or Euphonium and SHE playing her flute or piccolo together for Special Music at Easter and Christmas Eve.

 

As the years passed, the library went through changes - location, size, and then staff in a way SHE wasn't expecting. Acting Director and then Operations Director became her new titles. The Archdiocese also made changes, closing St. Pius and another school, creating Pope John Paul II but also combining the two band director positions into only one. So HE began taking more sports writing assignments and found a part time Marketing job.

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Through the years, vacations to visit family in the Midwest meant long car rides for Sherman and kennel stays for Mr. Peabody. Then cancer took Sherman and the little family felt his loss greatly. A new puppy joined the family within a few weeks - Franklin, the paperboy. That was the job he chose. Mr. Peabody accepted feisty Franklin and life returned to normal. But now there were changes in the Sports Writing world, HE was offered a full-time salaried position for the Reading Eagle. HE had his fifteen minutes of fame for a few weeks with electronic billboards displaying his smiling image along two highways. SHE also experienced changes. Budget cuts cost her the Boyertown library position, but SHE ended up at another library 20 miles away with new titles - Library Assistant, Volunteer Coordinator & Inter Library Loan Manager.

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During these years, Road Trips with the Alumni Band took the couple to many places: Rhode Island; Washington, D.C.; Walt Disney World; Boston; Gatlinburg; Lake George in NY; and many times to Atlantic City for parades and concerts. The furbabies stayed home, Franklin with friends or at a Bed & Biscuit, and Peabody with Aunt Carol their church's organist. Then while the couple were at work, Mr. Peabody passed away suddenly with only Franklin home with him. And a new kitten, another rescue, became a family member - Benjamin.  The family lost Franklin a few years later and on St. Patrick's Day, 2019, a very springy Springer Spaniel joined the family - Patrick Henry. 

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A few years ago, the Age of Retirement came upon both of them. HE became semi-retired, choosing to return to Freelance Sports Writing on a smaller scale and to begin substitute teaching for the band teachers of several nearby school districts. SHE also retired to spend more time with her hobbies of Photography, Poetry, Prose & Art, participating in several craft shows, self-publishing a Chapbook of Poetry & Photos called "Word Art, Abbreviated", and currently has one of her Photographs in a local Gallery Exhibit.

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Both are still involved with his Alumni Band. HE is in his 30th year as Band Captain and Principal Conductor, SHE is still playing flute but has also learned to play piccolo plus now shares music librarian-ship with saxophonist Roberta Windish. A number of years ago SHE was invited to play in a flute ensemble which SHE helped name, "Finely Fluted". The sometimes five, sometimes six lovely ladies perform for churches, civic organizations and special events.

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In 2022 more music entered their lives when they were invited to join the Exeter Community Band, HE as a prospective replacement Director of the bands, SHE as a musician. The following year this became the second regular weekly activity they shared with him stepping in as director when John Jadus retired. The next year SHE was asked to take on a role as an officer of the band.  And that was the year the couple organized, produced and kicked off the first annual Community Band Extravaganza held in the Historic SunnyBrook Ballroom featuring four concert bands. The following year it grew to five bands plus a Brass Quintet and this year, six community bands. 

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Music continues to flow strongly and with harmony through the lives of these two, just as love, laughter, and living life a little out of the ordinary has bound them together. Dennis and Marta Weller have experienced the heights and depths of emotion just like a thrilling melody, but through it all their family and friends have helped keep a steady beat.

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